NYC Health + Hospitals appoints Dominican Republic, Trinidadian natives to top posts

NYC Health + Hospitals on Thursday announced the appointment of Dominican Republic-born Cristina Contreras, LMSW, MPA, FABC as the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, and Trinidadian-born Julian John, MPA as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan.

In these roles, NYC Health + Hospitals said the CEOs will ensure all New Yorkers have access to high-quality health care, grow services at the hospitals, and develop strategies to support staff recruitment and retention. 

“In addition to their professional accomplishments, Contreras and John bring with them a deep personal connection to the public health system and communities they will serve,” NYC Health + Hospitals said. 

It said Contreras has worked at the health system since 1995, and is a Dominican Republic native and a leader in the Dominican community. 

NYC Health + Hospitals said John has served in the health system for a total of 15 years across his career, including the past four years at Metropolitan Hospital. 

NYC Health + Hospitals said John was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and is “rooted in both Trinidadian and Venezuelan communities.”

Both Contreras and John will begin their roles on September 16, NYC Health + Hospitals said. 

“I am proud to promote two long time NYC Health + Hospitals leadership team members at our hospitals,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “Cristina and Julian have spent years in our system, and they are dedicated to providing the high-quality care that our patients deserve. They are also connected to the community, knowing that what happens beyond the four walls of the hospital can affect staff and patients. Congratulations to them both.”

Contreras said: “As an executive leader within the NYC Health System, I have always led with passion for transformative healthcare and championed delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.

“I am excited for the opportunity to lead the dynamic team of people at NYC Health + Hospital/Lincoln who care deeply about advancing health for the patients and communities we serve,” she added. “I know that together, we will continue to innovate in order to provide the safe, high-quality, and equitable care that our patients deserve and expect.”

Cristina ContreraPhoto credit: NYC Health + Hospitals

John said he was “truly honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue working with the incredible team at NYC health + Hospitals/Metropolitan as their Chief Executive Officer.

“As CFO for the last three and a half years, I have led key initiatives to improve our financial performance, and I look forward to advancing our mission of providing, high-quality patient care in strong collaboration with our community partners, staff and patients,” he added. 

NYC Health + Hospitals said Contreras has over 29 years of progressive leadership experience in executive level management of inpatient, ambulatory, clinical and ancillary services hospital operations. 

She started her career as a caseworker and successfully progressed through various positions of leadership with increasing responsibility, culminating with her appointment, in 2021, as Chief Executive Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan in East Harlem. 

In this role, NYC Health + Hospitals said Contreras expanded access to care for underserved communities, recruited and cultivated outstanding talent, advanced programs of excellence and improved financial and operational performance. 

Julian JohnPhoto credit: NYC Health + Hospitals

Contreras holds a Bachelors in Social Work from Herbert H. Lehman College, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University, and a second Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Baruch College. 

In 2023, Contreras received the New York College of Podiatric Medicine’s honorary degree of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, at their annual commencement. 

NYC Health + Hospitals said John is a senior healthcare executive with over 30 years of hospital finance and public accounting experience, including experience in revenue cycle management and supply chain management. 

John served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan since 2021. 

As CFO, NYC Health + Hospitals said he provided strategic leadership for the hospital’s business and finance functions, as well as for the management of its financial and capital resources. 

He oversaw Budget and Financial Planning, Business Applications Development and Support, Procurement Services, and Audit Services. 

“Within those units lie critical business functions including payroll, financial reporting, accounts receivable and payable, and financial systems,” NYC Health + Hospitals said. 

It said John’s career spans more than 30 years of varied experience in healthcare financial management, business leadership, and corporate strategy. 

“He has broad experience in working collaboratively with various leaders and a proven track record as a successful negotiator. Julian has held several leadership positions within the NYC Health + Hospitals system,” NYC Health + Hospitals said. 

Prior to his current role, it said John served as Chief Financial Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln from 2019 to 2021, Corporate Controller for the NYC Health + Hospital system from 2015 to 2016, and Chief Financial Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County from 2005 to 2015. He also served as Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer at Interfaith Medical Center from 2016 to 2019. 

NYC Health + Hospitals said John began his career in the private sector as a staff accountant at Loeb & Troper and transitioned to healthcare finance, where he went on to hold several positions of increasing responsibility at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. 

He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Wagner School of Public Service, New York University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the City University of New York (Brooklyn College).